This is the story of a Father who tried to ride motor bikes in trials and found out he was useless.

He thought the only way to gain success would be to buy his son a trials bike and pray that he turned out better than himself. In this case the son turned out to be very good and managed to win trials. This bought happiness to Dad, and the cost of buying a much larger hat for his head. Then onwards, all of you heard from Dad was my son did this, my son did that, not just one day, but every day, that is until that fateful day 2/1/77.

On getting to a schoolboy trial, Dad was told that there was a Dads trial in the afternoon, which means that all Dads have to ride their boys bike in a trial. This was met with a look of horror on Dads face, after trying to get out of it by saying that the bike was to small. The reply was, other Dads were riding them, no helmet, reply "Use mine", which fitted rather well, for by now Dads head was much smaller. Every other excuse was instantly met with an answer. Dad signed on and was taken to the first section by his son.

This turned out to be over rocks, a climb, a drop of about 5ft., lots of twists and out. He was told what to do, yes, told what to do by a 9 year old. The son pointed out the line to take and told Dad to take his time. Right said Dad, lets have a go. So he joined the queue of white face Dads. Where he waited, Dad could not see the section, but from the noise being made by the Mums and children, he could tell something was happening there.

At last Dads turn came, last words of instruction from son, start motor, pull in clutch, lift gear lever and KEEP your legs straight, Dad moved off. First thing to happen was even before he reached the section, he bashed his knee on the handlebars, thinks, "must keep legs straight" and there it was, section 1 card and at least 50 Mums and 100 boys and girls, all eyes were o him. Into the rocks Dad went, not bad only one dab, up the slope, very good, turn left, the crowd went quiet, the drop, my god! He can't go down that, sown he did go, another dab, then it all happened, trees came from everywhere. There was laughter and cheers and remarks like, "5", give him another chance, "he is too old poor soul", "good god he is useless, "who taught his son, it wasn't his Dad, and then willing hands came to help Dad out of the trees. Son comes over and says, "you did it all wrong, listen to me next time". (9 years old, cheeky little @$&!)

Section 2! Twists, drops, change gear and blast the hill (now Dada knows what blast means) anyway Dad managed this one for three.

Section 3!. A clean! Yes a clean, head starts to grow again until helmet says "oh no you don't". Dad turns with a big smile on his face to show his teacher but where is he!. He was gone. No one to clap or cheer, just a loyal 10 year old girl observer frozen solid. "Clean" she said and that was that. Dad was told at section 4 by his son that section 3 was not worth watching as it was so easy.

Section 4! More instruction, and another clean, this time with witnesses "much to fast and wrong line" Dad was told "but I cleaned it" Dad said, "luck, pure luck"

Section 5! Tree roots "you will need a SAM dab here" Dad was told. By now, Dad wished he had never bought the bay a damned bike, for he was red hot and worn out. In Dad goes with the boy walking by his side, telling him what to do as he goes. "SAM dab now, down goes the foot, so does the bike and of course Dad. 5! Shout the kids, son looks as Dad in disbelief "why did you open the throttle, I told you to take your time". By now, thoughts of selling the bike and the boy are crossing Dads mind.

Section 6! The water hole, "go very slow" Dad is told " as the bottom is very hard". In Dad goes, god its deep!, its over the hubs, bloody hell! Dads got to clean this bike tonight. Oh no! he's losing balance, down goes a foot, up it comes again a lot heavier, boot full of water, screams from his son and crowd "Keep Going", Too damned right Dad keeps going, he's hot but not that hot; the water looks to freezing cold, he's out! Cheers form the crowd and his first smile from his son, "not bad" he says. The helmet speaks again.

Section 7! No trouble, brilliant, blast this helmet.

Section 8! Twists, drop into water, climb sand hill, turn right on top, drop down, turn up again. Very strict instructions here, to many, Dad forgot most as soon as he drops the clutch. In he goes, very good, big shout from boy, "TURN RIGHT! – You are going the wrong way" just made it, into water, good!, blast it for the hill, to late, down go the legs, shout form some other whipper-snapper of 11 Years "you are supposed to side the sections, not walk them", reached the top, turned downhill still walking. This drop is a good 15ft., cannot be done walking with bike between legs, manages to get one foot on the saddle, this saves Dad, turned and climbed out, sorry! Walked out of section for 3. Lots of laughs from everybody including his own son. People come over saying "you should have seen your face", "I have never seen legs so far apart on a man". One said "I will sell you the negative for £5 that's in my camera (Dad bought it). One little girl of about 6 yrs. Old said "your face is very red"

At last Dad has done his first Dads trial, but no, his son comes over and says "one to go", "Pardon" says Dad "there are only 8 sections", "No" say the son "one more lap". Dad nearly dies. Dad promises son new handlebars to forget it, but it does not work. Anyway Dad manages the last lap somehow.

The moral of this story goes out to Dads who try to get something out of their sons, which they could not do themselves, and that is you cannot just sit back and say, "he is my son, I taught him" and claim all the credit. You have to work just as hard, in fact harder than the boy, because you have to hold your remarks back when the boy makes a mistake and you want to shout at him and tell him off.

I have been following schoolboy trials for nearly 2 years, and I have never seen a boy or girl deliberately make a mistake. They are all doing their best. So please Mums and Dads, remember this and you will have real fun with your son or daughter, I know I have proved it.

P.S. The bike was a Yamaha TY80

The rider with gear was 6ft. 4ins.

Alan Birkett 1977